Information for British citizens

Until Icelandic authorities start issuing a residence permit card for British citizens with the right to reside in Iceland prior to 1 January 2021, you can document your right of residence in Iceland with a Residence certificate (C-122) issued by Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá). 

If you have an electronic ID, you can apply for the Residence certificate electronically through island.is. When processed the electronic certificate will be available in the island.is postbox of the person named in the certificate, except when parents or legal guardians order certificates for children, they will be available in the postbox of the person who ordered the certificate.

The processing time for certificates is generally up to two days. Therefore, it is important not to wait too long before ordering a Residence certificate.

If you cannot order the certificate electronically, you need to contact Registers Iceland and make an appointment to pick up the certificate.

No. British citizens will not require a visa for a short stay visit to Iceland or other countries in the Schengen area after the end of the transition period. They will be allowed to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days during any period of 180 days.

If you have registered your right of residence at Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá Íslands) before the end of the transition period (31 December 2020), you will not need to meet any new requirements in order to retain your right of residence.

Iceland will be issuing a residence permit card for British citizens who live in Iceland or move to Iceland before the end of the transition period that you can apply for. The application procedure for the residence permit card is being prepared and due to be introduced in January 2021.

If you have not yet registered your right of residence in Iceland with Registers Iceland, you will have to provide proof that you moved to Iceland before the end of the transition period and that you qualify for residence under the EU Free Movement Directive.

If you are a British citizen residing in Iceland and have registered your right of residence in Iceland with Registers Iceland before the end of the transition period, your spouse will still be able to apply for family reunification under the current rules for EU/EEA citizens, if you were married before the transition period ends (31 December 2020).

This is included in the Separation Agreement signed by the UK and the EEA/EFTA states.

Yes, children who are born or adopted after the transition period ends (31 December 2020) will also be covered by the Separation Agreement.

From 1 January 2021, British citizens will need to apply for a residence and work permit to have the right to live and work in Iceland.

A residence permit card confirms that you already have this right; that your stay in Iceland is legal and that you are allowed to work here. It can therefore be a good idea to have a residence permit card to demonstrate your right to reside and work in Iceland.

If you are a worker who is employed in Iceland, since before 31 December 2020, and returns each day or at least once a week to Britain, and you do not have a registered domicile in Iceland, you will need to contact the Directorate of Immigration for registration.

The processing of applications for Icelandic citizenship for British citizens will not be affected by Brexit. The Directorate of Immigration processes applications for Icelandic citizenship in the order in which they are received. There will be no special priority scheme for applications from British citizens.

You can check the processing time for applications for Icelandic citizenship here.

Find out more about the rules for Icelandic citizenship here.

No. British citizens will not require a visa for a short stay visit to Iceland or other countries in the Schengen area after the end of the transition period. They will be allowed to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days during any period of 180 days.

Please note that as long as Iceland has travel restrictions due to Covid-19 British citizens will be subject to the same entry requirements as other third country nationals. 

Until the end of the transition period (31 December 2020), British citizens will be treated in the same way as EU/EEA citizens, in accordance with the Free Movement Directive. If you want to work or live in Iceland for more than three months, you are required to register your right of residence with Registers Iceland.

We recommend that you register as soon as possible after your arrival in Iceland.

After the end of the transition period (31 December 2020) you will be treated according to the rules that apply to citizens of countries outside the EEA/EU (third country nationals). This means that British citizens who want to move to Iceland for work, study or to live with family members will need to fulfil the requirements for being granted a residence permit.

Please familiarize yourself with the basic requirements for a residence permit in Iceland as well as the specific requirements for the different types of residence permits.

Only if you fall under one of the exemptions from the work permit requirement due to short-term projects. Please familiarize yourself with the information on such exemptions on the website of the Directorate of Labour.

The right of free movement for British citizens will end at the end of the transition period (31 December 2020). The right of residence and employment in other EU/EEA states will depend on the rules in these states and on their future relationship with the UK.